INFLUENCE OF MINING COMPANIES’ ACTIVITIES ON SOCIO -ECONOMIC WELFARE OF MINING COMMUNITY A CASE OF POZZOLANA IN KAWOWO, KAPCHORWA, UGANDA

Abstract

The study was conducted in the parishes of Kapchela, Sanzala, and Kimawa in Kawowo Sub County Kapchorwa District of Uganda. The main objective of the study was to investigate the influence of mining companies’ activities on socio-economic welfare of mining community a case of Pozzolana of Kawowo Sub County in Kapchorwa District,Uganda while the specific objectives were; to find out the status of Pozzolana Mining Companies’ Activities, establish the Socio-Economic welfare status of the mining community and the influence of mining companies’ activities on socio-economic welfare of mining community The study adopted cross section research design, the sample size of the study was 227, quantitative data was collected using the questionnaire while qualitative using interview guide. The quantitative data was analysed using statistical package for social science (SPSS) and presented in tables and multiple regression to obtain the level of influence while data qualitative using themes . The study found a very low status of Pozzolana mining companies’ activities at (Grand mean = 1.43, SD = 0.48). It also found a very low Socio-Economic welfare status of mining community at (Grand Mean = 1.68, SD = 0.57). The study revealed that provision of employment opportunities was the only activity that positively influenced the socio-economic welfare (β = 20.8, P = 0.002). The study concluded that efforts were needed to improve the very low socio-economic welfare status of the mining community and the provision of employment opportunities was the most important activity. The study thus recommended that mining companies should maximise their influence on socio-economic welfare of mining communities through mechanisms that continuously ensure provision of employment opportunities and the government to design policies that agitate for provision of employment to communities from mining companies.